Thermostatic control for volatile fluid pumps



Sept. 9, 1924.

E. A. BIENENSTOK 'raanmosu'rxc CONTROL FOR VOLATILE FLUID PUMPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 22 i 1922 M Q mksw Y mw a gal 0. J3aizamfi% @wizmya Sept. 9 1924. 1,508,045

E. A. BIENENSTOK THERMOS'IATIC CONTROL FOR VOLATILE FLUID PUMPS Filed July 22, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 a: 50 i k 0 g v F 27 a? Mg M Patented Sept. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATNT OFFICE.

EDGAR A. BIEIVENSTOK, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO MILWAUKEE TANK WORKS, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

THERMOSTATIC GONTR-OL FOR VOLATILE FLUID PUMPS.

Application filed July 22, 1922. Serial No. 576,908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR A. BIENENSTOK, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thermostatic Controls for Volatile Fluid Pumps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

This invention relates to thermostatic con-- trolled devices for volatile fluid pumps for dry cleaning systems, and is particularly dirooted to a protection device adapted to operate when a fire starts in such dry cleaning establishments.

In dry cleaning establishments, a relatively elaborate system of piping, tanks and other units is employed for handling the volatile naphtha employed in the cleaning process and it frequently happens that fires occur in such establishments.

It is the usual practice to provide a power driven pump for causing the naphtha to flow from unit to unit, as it is desired. When a fire starts in an establishment of this type, while the power driven pump is in operation, it becomes a practical impossibility to stop the pump and prevent any further exposure of the naphtha to the fire. The pump continues to operate for quite a length of time and forces fresh naphtha into the burning apparatus, thereby needlessly augmenting the fire.

It is to overcome these difficulties that the present invention has been designed, and it is, therefore, a primary'object of this invention to provide a thermostatic control for the pump, so associated with the dry cleaning system, that when a fire starts in any portion of the system, the power is cut ofi' from the pump and further exposure of the naphtha is prevented.

Further objects are to provide a power driven pump associated with the dry clean ing apparatus and controlled by means extending over or adjacent the various units .in such system; to provide a positively actuated release for the power controlling mechanism; to provide sim 1e and fool proof means for controlling t e ower controlling mechanism, and to rovi e manual means adapted to act in con unction with the automatic means to control the operation of the pump.

Further objects are to provide a power controlling apparatus for the power driven pump of a dry cleaning system so organized that a falling weight will release the mechamsm and cause an interruption of the power supply; to provide a stretched composite cable for supporting the weight, and to provide a series of readily fusible elements interposed in such cable and adapted to interrupt the continuity of the cable when the temperature rises above a predetermined point. An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view showing a dry cleaning system provided with a power driven pump controlled by a composite stretched cable.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail, partly in sectlon of the power driven mechanism.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

It is intended that this invention shall be applicable to any of the usual types of dry cleaning systems, one of such systems being shown in Figure 1, in which the washers 1 are connected by suitable valve controlled pipes with a power driven pump, indicated generally at 2, and with a series of containers for the naphtha, such containers comprising a fresh supply tank 3, a settling tank 4-, a still 5, container 6 and distillate receiving tank 7.

In the operation of the system, the naphtha is adapted to be drawn from either the fresh supply tank 3, the settling tank 4,

or the distillate tank 7 by means of the power driven pump 2'and supplied to either or both of the washers 1, such naphtha being thereafter returned to the settling tank 4. When it is desired to further purify the used naphtha, it may be drawn from the settling tank 4 and passed thru the still 5, and when suitably distilled and condensed, received into the distillate tank 7.

The power driven pump comprises a cylinder 8, provided with a piston rod 9 con nected to the eccentric operated member 10, the eccentric being mounted upon the shaft ll of the pump. A tight and loose pulley 12 and 13, respectively, are mounted upon the shaft 11 and driven by a belt 14, such belt passing between the arms 15 of a belt -shifter, The belt shifter may conveniently comprise a rectangular plunger 16, slidably bearing against the bracket 17, and the other end bearing against a Washer 19, suitably mounted upon the plunger 16. A convenient way of mounting the bracket 17 is upon one of the transverse pipes 20 connected with the pump, by means of a suitably shaped base portion and a cooperating lower cap 21, (see it igugre 2), The rod 16 is provided, upon the side opposite the spring 18, with a rig idly fastened collar 22, and with an operating handle 23. The bracket 17 is continued laterally to provide a supporting arm 24:, to which a detent 25 is pivotally mounted, such detent being provided with a projecting portion 26 and with an operating handle 27.. The upper portion of the bracket carries a guide or sleeve 28, within which is slidably mounted a weight 29, such weight being normally held in elevated position, by means of a chain or cable 30. It is to be noted that the extension 26 of the detent passes thru a slot 31 in the guide 28, and is positioned in the path of movement of the weight 29, whereby when such weight falls, it will strike the arm 26, release the detent, and allow the belt shifter to move to its dotted line position, as indicated in Figure 2, thereby moving the belt 14 to the loose pulley 13.

The cable 30 is passed over a pulley 32 and extended, in a stretched condition, .over or adjacent the various units of the system, such cable repeatedly passing back and forth above the units and-being guided by suitable auxiliary pulleys 33 and 34: its free end being secured to any suitable stationary member 35. This cable is formed of a series of flexible portions 36 joined by means of readily fusible elements 37.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows :-Assume, for the purpose of illustration, that the pump is in operation, and that a fire starts in the establishment. One or more of the fusible elements 37 will melt and interrupt the continuity of the cable, thereby allowing the weight 29 to descend. This falling weight trips the detent 25 and allows thebelt shifter to move to the right, thereby shifting the belt from the tight pulley to the loose pulley and stopping the pump.

' In this manner, any further flow of naphtha into the exposed or burning portion of the apparatus is prevented, thereby allowing the fire to be readily controlled.

In dry cleaning establishments it is the usual practice to bury certain portions of the apparatus, such as the tanks or containers 3 1 and 7, and isolate, as well as possible, the still and condenser from the washers 1. It will be seen, therefore, that the washers are the most exposed units, and if additional naphtha is prevented from passing to such washers during a fire, a material reduction in the damage sustained is readily secured.

lt will be seen, therefore, that a dry cleaning system and a power driven pump associated therewith, have been provided, in

which automatic thermostatically controlled mechanism is utilized to stop the pump in an emergency. It will further be seen that an extremely simple automatic device has been provided, which is not likely to get out of order, and which may be readily and cheaply manufactured and installed It is intended that the terms used in this description, and the means shown, shall be understood as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense, for although one specific embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail, the invention is to be limited only as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Tu a dry cleaning system, a thermostatic control for volatile fluid pumps having a driven member, said control comprising movable means for controlling the supply of power to the driven member and biased to power stopping position, a latch for restraining the movement of said means, and a thermostatic device for tripping said latch upon rise of temperature above a predetermined point.

2. In a dry cleaning system the combination of a volatile fluid receiving tank, a washer, pipes joining said tank and washer, a power driven pump for passing the fluid through said pipes, a power controlling device, and thermostatic means for controlling said device.

3. In a dry cleaning system the combination of a power driven pump; tanks for holding a volatile fluid; washers; pipes connecting said tanks, washers and pump; power controlling means for said pump biased to power stopping position; manual means and automatic thermostatic means for controlling said power controlling means.

4:. In a dry cleaning system the combination of a series of units for holding a volatile fluid, pipes connecting said units, a pump for circulating said fluid through said pipes, power delivery means for said pump, mechanism for controlling the delivery of power to said pump, and a series ofspaced thermostatic devices positioned adjacent said units and pipes and controlling the operation of said mechanism.

5. In a dry cleaning system the combination of a series of receptacles for a volatile fluid, pipes joining said receptacles, a power driven pump for causing said fluid to circulate through said ipes and having a rotary shaft, a tight and oose pulley mounted upon said shaft, a driving belt cooperating with said ulleys, a spring pressed belt shifter biased to move said belt to said loose pulley, locking and releasin mechanism for said belt shifter, and a ca le stretched over said receptacles and pipes for controlling said belt shifter, said cable being composed of alternate fusible elements and intermediate portions,

6. In a dry cleaning system the combination of a series of receptacles for a volatile fluid; pipes joining said receptacles; a pump for causing said fluid to circulate through said pipes; power delivery apparatus associated with said pump; a movable power controlling device biased towards power stopping position; a detent normally preventing the movement of said device; a weight positioned above, and adapted to trip, said detent; and a composite 'cable stretched over said system and supporting said weight in elevated position, said cable comprising a series of alternate flexible portions and fusible elements.

7. In combination a pump for a volatile fluid, power delivery means for said pump, a movable member for controlling the delivery of power to said pump, means for moving said member to power stopping position, and a thermostatic device for controlling the operation of said last mentioned means, said device including a stretched cable having a series of flexible portions joined by fusible elements.

8. In combination a pump, wer delivery means therefor, mechanism or controlling the delivery of power to said pump, and a series of widely spaced thermostatic elements for controlling said mechanism to permit said mechanism to move to power stopping osition when any one of said elements nations.

9. Power controlling mechanism for a power driven machine comprising a plunger adapted to occupy either of two extreme positions corresponding to power. delive or power stopping position; a spring ten mg to move said plunger to one extreme positlon; a guide mounted adjacent said plunger; a weight positioned, and adapted to slide, within said guide; a detent for holding said plunger against the action of said spring and having an arm projecting into the path of movement of said weight; and a stretched cable normally holding said weight in an elevated osition and comp-rising a series of flexib e portions joined by fusible elements.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin.

EDGAR A. BIENENSTQK. 

